DI Expands Civic Education Campaigns in El Salvador

Building on its comprehensive election assistance program for El Salvador’s Legislative and Municipal elections in March, Democracy International has expanded its civic education activities, aiming to inform Salvadorans about the content and importance of proposed political and electoral reforms.

The successful implementation of reforms enacted before the March elections has opened the political window for further reform, potentially including the election of municipal councils by proportional representation, a new law governing political parties including possible new regulations of campaign finance, and reforms to reinforce the independence of the Salvadoran electoral authorities.

To engage citizens in public discussion of these reforms, DI is working with Salvadoran NGOs, including the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES) and the Social Initiative for Democracy (ISD), among others. FUSADES is analyzing the public’s perceptions of the proposed reforms and will produce publications and hold roundtable events to generate and inform discussions among opinion- and policy-makers and to increase general public interest and awareness. ISD is working throughout El Salvador to reach and inform citizens about the reforms and their importance to the country’s ongoing democratic development.

DI is also providing technical assistance to Allies for Democracy, a coalition of 126 civil society organizations from across the country’s economic, social, and political spectrum, to promote political and electoral reforms in El Salvador. In addition, DI continues its work with the Salvadoran Supreme Electoral Tribunal to evaluate the 2012 elections and consider opportunities
for further changes or institutional capacity-building.

Learn more about DI’s program in El Salvador here.